In this month’s article I am afraid that I am going to return to a familiar theme, with yet another tragic accident occurring in the industry.
Many of you will probably have already seen the news reports which give some details of the accident which occurred 2 years ago in Coventry when an 11 year old school girl was killed after being struck by a refuse lorry on her way to school.
As is so often the case, there was previous form leading up to the incident, which with the correct level of control should have prevented the death from occurring. These circumstances once again shine a very bright spot light on the working practices of the sector and although it was a refuse vehicle, the lessons should resonate loudly with all of us involved in waste transport.
In addition to the trauma and sorrow surrounding the loss of life, the council was also fined a hefty £125,000 and a further £40,000 in costs when it admitted breaches under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act in a prosecution brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).
You may be surprised to learn that the police had actually been secretly watching and filming bin crews over several months following a number of complaints about the way that the lorries were being driven.
These were presented as evidence in court and showed lorries reversing at considerable speed over long distances around blind bends and being driven erratically, to include mounting the pavement.
What makes the circumstances even worse is that the council had already had one "wake-up call" only three months earlier when a 15-year-old girl was also run over by a reversing bin lorry. Fortunately she escaped with only minor injuries but the court was told that the council failed to take any significant action after the incident.
The council admitted failing to operate a safe system of work including inadequate supervision, information and instruction for the refuse collection service. It also admitted failing to ensure suitable risk assessments for refuse employees.
Paul Smith, the investigating inspector for the Health and Safety Executive said: "There is a tragic history of pedestrians, particularly children and old people, being run over by refuse collection vehicles.
These incidents must act as a stimulus for the industry to review it’s procedures, making sure that vehicle risks are properly controlled."
Lessons?
I think we all have a duty to learn from these incidents... I am sure that the council concerned have made several major changes to their processes and procedures, but I would urge you all to do the same before you become involved in such a tragic situation... “barn door, horse, late” springs to mind.
I would suggest that you could look to the failings mentioned above and make sure that you are not also in danger of making the same mistakes.
It mentions a safe system of work, to include adequate supervision, information and instruction and suitable risk assessments. I have mentioned all of these in previous articles, but have you done anything about it... I am wagging my finger school teacher like at the computer screen as I type this!!
Ask yourself a question...
When was the last time you actually considered providing any training or instruction to your drivers/crews?
If the answer is never, or not very often, then I am afraid that you could be moving in the direction of the council mentioned in this article. I think we are all aware of the risks of operating vehicles, so you are not really going to have any defence should something go wrong, unless you can demonstrate that you have that elusive “safe system of work” in place.
It doesn’t have to cost the earth
The cost of doing nothing is certainly not “nothing” as the council found out with a hefty fine and costs. Also, just think about the damage to your business from being involved in such an emotive incident. This of course certainly doesn’t reflect the loss suffered by family and friends of the individuals involved in any accident, but it probably brings it home to you and your company.
Nevertheless, I think that we have to live in the real world and recognise that monetary costs are going to be a factor in how far you are prepared to go with changes. But, with a bit of planning and a few phone calls you might even find that all this doesn’t have to cost you very much. For example, are you aware that there is funding available to help with training and the delivery of NVQs to staff? This would go some way towards helping you to introduce and, perhaps more importantly, be able to demonstrate that you have introduced, a safe system of work.
If any of this strikes a chord with you and you want to discuss the options available to you in more detail, then please contact me as we need to try and stop these tragic incidents from occurring again and again.
Nigel Mair is a WAMITAB assessor and verifier and runs the North West Regional Assessment Centre, delivering WAMITAB qualifications and other H&S, waste and environmental training.
If you have any questions for Nigel, please email them through to nigel@theskip.net
